James Arthur denies being dropped by Syco record label over terrorism lyrics

Singer said fans should 'not look too deeply into the media circus'

James Arthur has denied being dropped from his record label (Getty Images)

James Arthur has denied reports that he has been dropped by his record label over a single that appeared to promote terrorism.

The singer tweeted to confirm he was still with Syco and “exclusively signed to Sony” after reports in The Sun on Sunday suggested Arthur had lost his contract with Simon Cowell’s label.

He wrote: “As far as I know I am still with Syco but I am exclusively signed to Sony. People look too deeply into the media circus. It’s about music.”

The tabloid suggested that the line “I’m gonna blow up your family like I’m a terrorist” used on a track on his forthcoming All The World’s A Stage mixtape was the final straw for Syco.

But Arthur said the lyrics were based on a letter from a “demented fan” in the style of Eminem’s song “Stan”.

“The song ‘follow the leader’ from the mixtape is not promoting terrorism, it’s a story, a reciting of a Stan Esc letter from a demented fan,” he wrote.

Syco has stood by the X Factor winner despite his use of homophobic lyrics in 2013, and his plea to have a killer whale “attacking a crowd of people, lashing out after being exploited” on the cover of his mixtape last month.

Speaking earlier this year about Arthur, Simon Cowell said: “I think James, unfortunately, has had so many issues with what he has done publicly – which is a real issue with me. Somebody should have told him to shut up and just put the records out.”

A spokesperson from James Arthur’s management declined to comment this morning.

Read more: James Arthur compares himself to a killer whale